To translate the word equation "Aluminium + oxygen → Aluminium oxide" into a balanced chemical formula equation, follow these steps:
1. Write the Unbalanced Chemical Equation:
Begin by writing the unbalanced chemical equation using the correct chemical formulas for each substance involved.
[tex]\[
\text{Aluminium (Al)} + \text{oxygen (\(O_2\))} \rightarrow \text{Aluminium oxide (\(Al_2O_3\))}
\][/tex]
So, the unbalanced equation looks like this:
[tex]\[
\text{Al} + \text{O}_2 \rightarrow \text{Al}_2\text{O}_3
\][/tex]
2. Balance the Aluminium (Al) Atoms:
Notice that there are 2 aluminium atoms in aluminium oxide ([tex]\( \text{Al}_2\text{O}_3 \)[/tex]) but only 1 aluminium atom on the reactant side. To balance the aluminium atoms, place a coefficient of 2 in front of the aluminium ([tex]\( \text{Al} \)[/tex]) on the reactant side:
[tex]\[
2\text{Al} + \text{O}_2 \rightarrow \text{Al}_2\text{O}_3
\][/tex]
3. Balance the Oxygen (O) Atoms:
Next, look at the oxygen atoms. There are 3 oxygen atoms in aluminium oxide ([tex]\( \text{Al}_2\text{O}_3 \)[/tex]) but 2 oxygen atoms in molecular oxygen ([tex]\( \text{O}_2 \)[/tex]). To balance these, you need 1.5 ([tex]\( \frac{3}{2} \)[/tex]) molecules of [tex]\( \text{O}_2 \)[/tex]:
[tex]\[
2\text{Al} + \frac{3}{2} \text{O}_2 \rightarrow \text{Al}_2\text{O}_3
\][/tex]
However, chemical equations generally do not use fractional coefficients in the final balanced form.
4. Eliminate the Fraction by Multiplying the Entire Equation by 2:
To clear the fraction, multiply every coefficient by 2:
[tex]\[
2 \times 2\text{Al} + 2 \times \frac{3}{2}\text{O}_2 \rightarrow 2 \times \text{Al}_2\text{O}_3
\][/tex]
Simplifying this gives:
[tex]\[
4\text{Al} + 3\text{O}_2 \rightarrow 2\text{Al}_2\text{O}_3
\][/tex]
5. Check the Balancing:
- Aluminium atoms: 4 on both sides.
- Oxygen atoms: 6 on both sides (3 molecules of [tex]\( \text{O}_2 \)[/tex] give 6 oxygen atoms and [tex]\( 2 \times \text{Al}_2\text{O}_3 \)[/tex] also has 6 oxygen atoms).
The balanced chemical equation for the reaction of aluminium with oxygen to form aluminium oxide is:
[tex]\[
4\text{Al} + 3\text{O}_2 \rightarrow 2\text{Al}_2\text{O}_3
\][/tex]
